DC ear for citizen distress
- Saturdays devoted to gripe

East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Amitabh Kaushal has drawn up an action plan to track citizen grievances for 2014-15, a first-time initiative by any district in Kolhan region.

According to plan, senior administrative officials will regularly track public petitions and complaints to different administrative departments.

Additionally, every week, senior administrative officials will have to dedicate one day, ideally Saturday, for office inspection, wherein they will check registers, look into people’s letters and petitions and jot down details about the disposal of each complaint.

“For instance, if there is a citizen allegation against an government official’s style of functioning, the inspecting official should investigate if the petition has been properly dealt with and action taken against the erring official,” said the deputy commissioner.

Directives has been issued to inspecting administrative officials to classify petitions and letters received at the offices into four categories under the heads of government, complaint, allegation and general. They will also keep track of each letter till it reaches a logical conclusion.

Senior administrative officials will also devote two days a week, ideally Tuesday and Friday, for field visits for on-the-spot physical verification of ongoing development schemes.

“We have fixed quarterly targets and deadline for each development scheme. Reports of inspecting officials will be reviewed fortnightly. The aim is to ensure development schemes are completed in time, Kaushal said.

Inspecting officials will also check cash books for sums spent and unspent for different development projects and prod department officials concerned about utilising the unused funds.

This apart, officials will also note down the sanctioned and working (actual) strength of the workforce in departments, cleanliness and ambience of the offices.

Leading from the front, Kaushal will inspect the registry department on June 14, the integrated tribal development authority office on June 21 and district rural development agency on June 28.